To Save a Race
 
Blurb:
When Duke Callon divorces his wife and decides on an uncanny way of choosing his next duchess, Arianna's left with little choice. Faced with the intricacies of politics, Arianna struggles to find her place. Just as she thinks she has her footing, a decree, issued with the blessing of her husband, calls for the extermination of her entire race.
A young innocent girl, a capricious duke, and a decree that will change everything. What will it take to save a race?
Follow along in this one of a kind Steampunk Biblical retelling of an Old Testament classic by Kandi J Wyatt.
 
Bio:
            Even as a young girl, Kandi J Wyatt, had a knack for words. She loved to read them, even if it was on a shampoo bottle! By high school Kandi had learned to put words together on paper to create stories for those she loved. Nowadays, she writes for her kids, whether that's her own five or the hundreds of students she's been lucky to teach. When Kandi's not spinning words to create stories, she's using them to teach students about Spanish, life, and leadership.
 
Where to find me:
Website: http://kandijwyatt.com/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/kandijwyatt/
Google: http://plus.google.com/u/0/+KandiWyatt/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/kandijwyatt
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/kandijwyatt
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13817774.Kandi_J_Wyatt
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kandi-J-Wyatt/e/B00ZTC4T10/
 
Where to find the book:
https://www.books2read.com/u/49PG5k
 
 
Excerpt:
 
Kenden wandered into the garden with his heart in his throat. It was hard to think of Arianna as old enough for marriage, but she was a year older than Pasha, and Pasha would be married in two weeks. Kenden shook his head, frustrated at the turn fate had sent him. In these ruminations he rounded a corner and came upon Arianna as she bent over something in the foliage. The late evening sun glimmered in her hair, turning it to a fine gold. No one would mistake her for an Anduvian. Somehow Arianna had not inherited the green eyes, brown hair, and squat nose of her heritage. She was short, but that was the only thing that could indicate her race.
As he drew closer, he could see that she’d paused in her walk to admire a lone pink rose, which flourished even in the fading season. With a smile, she stood up and turned around.
“Oh,” she exclaimed as she ran right into Kenden’s arms.
He held her for a moment making sure she had her balance before backing away. He noticed the flush that filled her cheeks and smiled at her, his dark eyes sparkling.
“I see I just saved a damsel in distress.”
“Yes, you did.” Arianna smiled, a tear escaping her eye despite her best intentions.
Kenden’s smile faded as he gently caught the tear in his hand as if he held a treasure. “How can I help, Arianna?”
“I’ll be fine.” She was quiet for a long moment before she let out a small sigh and added, “I guess I’m getting used to the thought of Pasha being gone.”
Kenden sighed. “I understand. It won’t be the same around here.”
Two bats called in their first pass of the evening. Arianna averted her gaze and turned to the rose beside them.
“I’d just decided if this lone rose could make it, so could I.”
Kenden smiled at her. “You always did look at the bright side of things.”
“I think that comes from my roots. Anduvians have had to look at the bright side many times.” Her eyes dimmed with sadness. “After all, there was Uncle Marcos to teach me when Mother and Father died.”
Kenden nodded. “Would it help if I offered you something?”
Arianna looked up at him. He placed his arm around her protectively. She felt so fragile in his embrace.
“What would you offer me that I don’t already have, Kenden?” Her clear blue eyes trusted him.
He paused, debating what to say, or even how to say it. “Arianna, first: do you know why Mother and Father said yes to a two-week engagement for Pasha and Eugene?”
Arianna shook her head. “I’ve no clue. It seemed somewhat short.”
“That it is. They approved it because of the duke’s edict.”
“Duke’s edict?” Arianna’s brow creased. “What exactly is that? I’ve heard it discussed in hushed tones, no one will tell me what it was. All I know is Portia left because of it.”
“You heard about the duke’s divorce, didn’t you?” He waited for her nod before continuing. “Well, now he’s convinced he wishes to marry again, and he’s choosing a duchess from the eligible ladies of the city.”
“He’s the duke, after all; he should be able to have his pick of eligible nobles. What does that have to do with Portia or with us, though?”
“The duke’s counselors convinced him to have a beauty contest and any girl who pleases him will become duchess. Portia left because she wanted to be considered. The duke will soon demand that all eligible young girls come to the castle for his selection process.”
“What?” Arianna pulled away from Kenden to look up at him better. “He can’t do that.”
Kenden laughed dryly. “You just said he’s the duke.”
“But, that means—!” Her blue eyes sparkled with fire. “I won’t go.”
She pushed Kenden’s arm away and stomped down the path. Kenden’s voice stopped her.
“I wouldn’t want you to, but as it is right now, you’ll be forced to go.”
 
 

Excited to share my new cover for Can Dreams Come True? The book is the first in the Cecily Taylor Series and is young adult contemporary romance. Check out the blurb here:

Cecily has always had a huge crush on singer Andrew Holiday and she wants to be an actress, so she tags along when her friend auditions for his new video. However, the director isn’t looking for an actress, but rather the girl next door—and so is Andrew. Cecily gets a part in the video and all of Andrew’s attention on the set. Her friend begins to see red and Cecily’s boyfriend is seeing green—as in major jealousy. A misunderstanding leaves Cecily and her boyfriend on the outs and Andrew hopes to pick up the pieces as he’s looking for someone more stable in his life than the models he’s dated. Soon Cecily begins to realize Andrew understands her more than her small-town boyfriend—but can her perfect love match really be her favorite rock star?

Pre-order the book now: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079S3KJSH
It officially releases on March 20th.

You check out the Can Dreams Come True Pinterest inspiration board here!: https://www.pinterest.com/krystenlindsay/can-dreams-come-true-the-cecily-taylor-series/

From RJ Conte, weaver of deep, emotional fiction, comes a touching collection of short stories about love and unique relationships - including the bestselling Lucent Sylph!


RJ Conte, formerly Rachael Lynn Thomas, has kissed only one boy in her entire life. And she married him, inspiring her to write about sweet or powerful love stories ever since.

She writes a blog on parenting, publishing, painting, and perorating at http://blonderj.wordpress.com/

RJ Conte writes realistic, issue-driven fiction that explores human nature and the depths of the soul, while pointing readers to their Creator.

Each of the five short stories touches on love in different, unique relationships: caregiver and child, parent and child, man and woman, teen and pet, and warrior and unsuspecting victims.

The collection of short stories will be released on Amazon on Valentines' Day, February 14th!  https://www.amazon.com/Bottle-Glass-Hearts-Collection-Stories-ebook/dp/B079DS67T1/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1518042966&sr=8-3&keywords=RJ+Conte


Brief blurbs on each story:

GEM:
When Soleil is hired as caretaker to a young boy born with superhuman powers, it's up to her hope and optimism to help him survive his dangerous destiny - stopping the core earthquake that will destroy the world.

HIS BOTTLES OF TEARS
Her daughter has left the faith, and her heart is dashed in pieces. Then Jesus shows her a room full of bottles in a dream - vessels filled with tears, carrying stories she will never forget. 

And one of them is her own.

CURLS FOR RAE
Rae has the most beautiful hair in the world… and the saddest eyes. Every week she returns to Blaine’s hairdressing shop, saying hardly a word. As he transforms her into the beauty of his dreams, she cries in silence. His heart breaks for her secret sorrow, and he longs to discover the mystery behind her tears.

AINE, STARWARRIOR
For centuries, Aine and her magnificent kindred have protected the skies from vast, galaxy-sized threats. But her fiercest battle yet will determine the fate of thousands on the unsuspecting planets below. Will she have the creativity and fortitude to defeat this newest enemy?

LUCENT SYLPH
Lucas Thissel has something he fears: an alien species of palm-sized glass fairies called Lucent Sylphs. They came through a portal from a metaphysical dimension, and they indenture themselves as slaves to human beings. Too much neglect or unkindness, and they will cloud over and disintegrate. Too much love and their hearts are overcome and burst.

And one has attached herself to him.

Excited to host YA author N J Simmonds on the blog and share her great Valentine's Day signed book giveaway! Check out the book! "Can love ever be stronger than fate? THE PATH KEEPER is the first book from N J Simmond's thrilling new YA fantasy romance series. When Ella moves to London and meets Zac, she soon realises that he's keeping something from her - little does she know that his secret goes back thousands of years and is about to change her life forever. For your chance to win a limited edition signed copy, simply check out the rafflecopter at the end of this post. For more information, or to buy a copy, visit njsimmonds.com 

And check out her great post on why we love young adult romance!

WHY WE LOVE YA LOVE
​
As a YA writer, the theme of ‘romance’ features heavily in my work. How could it not? Your teen years are when you first encounter True Love - or at least something that closely resembles it. It’s the period in your life when that special someone’s face is permanently branded on your mind. You can’t eat, sleep or think of anyone else. The weight of your all-encompassing crush is immense and your heart is being ripped in two. But the truth is, these feelings are addictive and you’re secretly loving all the feels.
This is the reason why romance and all its associated fairy-tale tropes is so central to all YA novels and why we can’t get enough of it.
Here are the five reasons why we all love YA love!
1. ALL THE FIRSTS
From the risky and forbidden (cigarettes, alcohol, clubbing, sex, getting a tattoo and dating that person your parents hate) to the more common but just as dramatic (being bullied, friendship problems and unrequited love) – these experiences in our teen years are what define us as adults.


The things we do and the things that are done to us, at a time when we are not only discovering the world through young adult eyes but discovering ourselves, are what shape us and help us decide who we want to be.
Whether those firsts are still something you are waiting for, or but a distant memory, they will always remain the crossroads of your life. They are unforgettable moments you’ll think back on forever. Therefore, any character in a YA romance battling with these emotions has our full attention - because we’ve all been there.
2. INTENSITY
Blame hormones or the child-to-adult transition, but the feels you feel during your teen years are intense. Extreme. Mind-blowing. Life changing. Life or death (or at least they feel that way). Reading a YA novel filled with that level of intensity is exciting, it makes a normal love story into a page-turner. This is why YA books are generally a fast and exhilarating ride and we can’t get enough of the love angst, even if it’s in a ‘rather you than me’ way!
3. DRAMA
Relationships as a teen aren’t easy. Friendships are vital yet can be transient. Parents are adjusting to parenting nearly-adults and girlfriends/boyfriends are hard work. As a teen couple you are experiencing all the firsts in love too, not just the emotional but the physical – first kiss, first date, losing your virginity and your first break up. Plus for teens who are questioning their sexuality during this time in their life, the level of drama and anxiety they experience is likely to intensify. This is why diverse YA romances are so important. Not only so we can get swept away with the ups and downs of first loves but also find our very own literary heroes that are living our lives through the books we read. We need to read about people like us, feeling and experiencing what we are, to teach us that it’s OK to feel what we feel...there are many others in the same boat.
4. CONFUSION Whether trying to decide what studies you need to do to chase the career of your dreams, or questioning your very identity – being a young adult is a confusing time.
Those tumultuous years filled with questions and self-doubt are normal, which is why so many YA romances not only have the characters asking themselves some of life’s hardest questions, but in turn encouraging the readers to ask questions too. Who am I? What do I want? Where am I going? Why do I do what I do? What next?


The typical ‘coming of age’ arc is evident in all YA novels, but where there’s romance it adds that extra feel-good, throw-the-book-across-the-room, smile-through-your-tears dimension. I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing I love more than getting to the end of a book and feeling completely wrecked!
5. HOPE Yet, regardless of having YA novels squeeze our hearts until they pop, the best thing about YA love stories is hope.


As a young adult you haven’t yet had the chance to be burnt in love or life. You’re not the cynical or sceptical person you may be in your late twenties or thirties – or the wistful, rose-tinted glasses wearing older adult looking back on their formative years with nostalgia or regret. As a teen and young adult, the world is yours for the taking. It’s full of exciting
possibilities, unknown adventures and hope by the bucket-load. Whether a character in the YA book meets their forever soul mate – or they simply discover that love can be gloriously exquisite while it lasts (pain and all) – most YA books still end with hope.
People ask me why I write for young adults, and the answer is that my heart never truly left those teen years. The drama, intensity, all the firsts, the crazy highs and lowest of lows not only send you into whirlwind of emotions but they remind us all that we are ALIVE!
As a writer, immersing myself in this world of extremes is definitely the most evocative and satisfying. I feel like I get to stay young forever, and as an added bonus I have the BEST readers – YA fans who feel as intensely about my characters as I do. I get to show them that they are not alone, that they are understood, and that everyone deserves love in their life.
Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! N J Simmonds is the writer of the YA fantasy romance series THE PATH KEEPER, she’s also in the process of launching her first (title not yet announced) contemporary YA novel. For more information about the author and her books visit njsimmonds.com or follow her on Twitter @NJSimmondsTPK

Enter to win a signed copy of the Path Keeper here: